William Aitken (footballer)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | William John Aitken[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 2 February 1894||
Place of birth | Peterhead, Scotland[1] | ||
Date of death | 9 August 1973[1] | (aged 79)||
Place of death | Gateshead, England[1] | ||
Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Youth career | |||
Kirkintilloch | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1916–1918 | Queen's Park | 62 | (14) |
1918–1919 | Rangers | 21 | (2) |
1919–1920 | Port Vale | 30 | (4) |
1920–1924 | Newcastle United | 104 | (10) |
1924–1926 | Preston North End | 56 | (11) |
1926 | Chorley | ||
1926–1927 | Norwich City | 14 | (0) |
1927–1928 | Bideford Town | ||
1928–1930 | Juventus | 0 | (0) |
1930–1934 | Cannes | ||
1934–1936 | Reims | ||
1936–1939 | Antibes | 6 | (0) |
Total | 293+ | (41+) | |
Managerial career | |||
1928–1930 | Juventus | ||
1932–1934 | Cannes | ||
1934–1936 | Reims | ||
1937–1939 | Antibes | ||
1947–1948 | Union SG | ||
1949 | Brann | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
William John Aitken (2 February 1894 – 9 August 1973) was a Scottish football player and manager.
A forward, he was known for his trait of bouncing the ball on his head whilst running along the touchline, and was normally known as Willie or Billy. He began his career at Kirkintilloch, before joining Rangers via Queen's Park in 1918. He signed with Port Vale in 1919, before he was sold on to Newcastle United for £2,500 in May 1920. He spent four seasons at Tyneside, before joining Preston North End in 1924. He spent two years with the "Lambs", and after spells at Chorley, Norwich City and Bideford Town, he was appointed as head coach at Italian club Juventus in 1928. He moved on to France the following year to play for Cannes. He played in the 1932 Coupe de France final victory, and was later appointed as club manager. He then spent 1934 to 1936 as player-manager at Reims, and then took charge at Antibes between 1936 and 1938. During World War II, he worked as a defence contractor at Vickers-Armstrongs, and he coached across Europe, in addition to working for a wine and spirits distributor.
Career
Aitken played for amateur sides
He began playing as an inside-forward at St James' Park, and although he only scored ten goals in 110 league games in four seasons at the club, his unselfishness in attack and overall contribution to the team was greatly appreciated. Newcastle finished fifth in the First Division in 1920–21, with Aitken claiming three goals in 38 appearances.[4] He was limited to 16 games as United finished seventh in 1921–22.[4] They then finished fourth in 1922–23, with Aitken scoring four goals in 26 matches.[4] He scored three goals in 30 appearances as Newcastle posted a ninth-place finish in 1923–24.[4] He played alongside Stan Seymour and Tommy McDonald.[4] In 1924 Aitken signed for Preston North End for £1,000.[4] He then joined Chorley, Norwich City and Bideford Town.
He travelled to Italy, and impressed
Later life
He returned to Britain during World War II, and worked as a defence contractor at Vickers-Armstrongs. He later coached in Belgium (Union SG) and Norway (Brann), and became a representative of a wine and spirits distributor in Tyne and Wear.
Career statistics
Club | Season | Division | League | Cup | Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
Rangers | 1918–19 | Scottish Division One | 21 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 3 |
Port Vale | 1919–20 | Second Division | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 4 |
Newcastle United | 1920–21 | First Division | 35 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 3 |
1921–22 | First Division | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
1922–23 | First Division | 25 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 4 | |
1923–24 | First Division | 28 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 3 | |
Total | 104 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 110 | 10 | ||
Preston North End | 1924–25 | First Division | 41 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 6 |
1925–26 | Second Division | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 | |
Total | 56 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 58 | 11 | ||
Norwich City | 1926–27 | Third Division South | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
Honours
Cannes
Reims
- Championnat de France amateur: 1935
References
- ^ ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
- ^ Tynesider (21 August 1922). "Few big transfers in the First Division of the Football League. Newcastle United". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
- ^ Aitken, William John QPFC.com
- ^ a b c d e f g "Player profile: William John "Willie" Aitken". toon1892.co.uk. Kenneth H Scott. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "George AITKEN". ilpalloneracconta.blogspot.it (in Italian). Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ Craig, Ross 'Teddy' (26 August 2013). "Scottish Football's Coaching Pioneers 3: William 'George' Aitken". Scottish Comedy Football Club. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ William Aitken at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- ^ "Rangers Player William J Aitken Details". fitbastats.com. Retrieved 13 February 2017.